The Lipscomb Bisons baseball team lost to the Vanderbilt Commodores 11-1 on Tuesday, but what happened before that game served a greater purpose for both teams than what happened on the diamond.
The game was scheduled for the day after the shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville, the same city both Lipscomb and Vanderbilt have campuses. During class on Tuesday morning, Bisons pitcher Logan Van Treeck felt the Lord call on him to pray before the game.
Van Treeck then asked his coaches to reach out to the Vanderbilt staff to see if they would be willing to join in this gesture.
“From our campus, Covenant is three miles away. Seeing the effects of how this hit so close to home, how people are hurting, and how people are trying to process this less than 24 hours after it happened, it was a testament of the Lord to put it on my heart,” Van Teeck said. “We had an opportunity, as two baseball programs in Nashville, to take a moment to acknowledge and pray for the families and the communities that are impacted by this tragedy in our city.”
The Commodores joined the Bisons, taking time before the game to pray for the victims and families of the shooting, as well as the city.
#VandyBoys and Lipscomb players have joined together in a circle before taking the field for warmups. Lipscomb pitcher Logan Van Treeck was addressing both squads pic.twitter.com/gcCBglMnoo
— Aria Gerson (@aria_gerson) March 28, 2023
“People often as ‘what can we do?’ Especially as two baseball teams that are trying to play a game,” Van Treeck said in the huddle before beginning his prayer. “In my mind, there are two things: Number one is pray. The most that we can do for people is call all on God and ask Him to do what He does in healing, sitting with people in their pain, and restoring comfort. Number two is, as men, standing up and looking for ways to serve our community. We have an opportunity to use our platform to serve people, and to be with those who are hurting.”
Vanderbilt announced that all proceeds earned from the game would be donated to help the victims and the school after the shooting.
All ticket proceeds for tonight's matchup against Lipscomb will be donated to the Caring for Covenant Fund. Those wishing to donate can visit https://t.co/pdHlsgi7Mu or purchase a $5 ticket to tonight’s game.
— Vanderbilt Baseball (@VandyBoys) March 28, 2023
🔗: https://t.co/Qb2vJ1PTBR
This is how people should respond to a tragedy such as the shooting. People are hurting, and the first thing we should be worried about are those that were affected and help them in any way we can. Mike Wise should take notes.
Well done, gentlemen.
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